Search This Blog

iPhone 5 Thoughts

Apple announced the iPhone 5 to the world yesterday. In what many see as a response to Android's rise, Apple has changed the screen size to taller 4-inch display, added LTE connectivity and made the phone even thinner and lighter than before. For some the announcement was a let down, mainly because it was a confirmation of the leaks we had all been reading about for the past few months, for others it was because Apple didn't include NFC support or didn't add some new feature with iOS 6 that Apple had kept exclusively for their newest phone. I respect what Apple is doing with their latest device and here's why.

A safe, but smart move from Apple

The iPhone 5 represents the culmination of everything Apple has done in the mobile space since 2007. It's the best iPhone to date, and in many ways, one of the best, most polished phones you can own period. Everyone is clamoring for radical changes, amazing new features or crazy new designs. Apple did that once, it was called the iPhone, and it launched in 2007. That's where this feeling of being let-down comes from. This notion that somehow every year Apple, or some other cell phone manufacturer is going to come in and blow the doors off the competition with an amazing new feature or radical change to the way we view phones.

That kind of revolutionary leap forward only happens every so often. Why should Apple work to rebuild the iPhone from scratch when they have one of, if not the, strongest mobile foundations to build from? What purpose does that serve other than to give consumers what amounts to a first-gen product that's likely to be buggy, unstable, and frustrating? No, Apple knows what they are doing and they know that the way to user's wallets is consistency and even more importantly, reliability. My dad is currently looking to replace his aging Blackberry (yes he's the one guy who still has one) and he's been looking for something that will be easy to use, have LTE support and will be reliable for him, it's nearly impossible for me to recommend him anything other than the iPhone. (Also doesn't help he's on Sprint so Windows Phones aren't an option.)

So has Apple rocked the boat? Not in the slightest. If anything Apple has further cemented their solid foundation in mobile for the next iPhone. Until someone else forces Apple to radically change their formula, they have no reason to and I can't fault them in the slightest.

Popular posts from this blog

A few weeks ago, Microsoft held a press event to announce their new Education initiatives. While many focused on the high end hardware that was announced in the Surface Laptop, I am much more interested in the new version of Windows 10 that was announced: Windows 10 S.

Some have called Windows 10 S, "the future of Windows." I tend to agree. But I never think it will be the only version of Windows. Right now, at best, Windows 10 S will be the version of Windows your grandma, your parents, or your kids can use. But the "power users," the core of those who make up the creatives that Microsoft seems to be trying to cater to lately, will find the OS limitations a non-starter.

For those who still aren't aware, Windows 10 S, at it's core is a version of Windows that can only run applications delivered through the Windows 10 Store. The idea behind this is sound. It's the basic principal behind the iPad, iPhone, and Chrome OS (to a lesser extent). With a locked do…

So full disclosure, I haven't held or seen in person an iPhone X yet. But between the glitzy Apple ads, giant billboards, and hands on videos others have published, I know everything I need to know. The iPhone X isn't worth the money, at least not right now.
You may be wondering why I'm so quick to pass judgment on a product I've never used, let alone seen in person. Apple has admitted that the iPhone X was slated for 2018, but they worked really hard and got it out early. I don't buy that for a minute. The iPhone X is a reaction to Samsung, to Google, to LG, and HTC. Worse, it's a first generation reaction, with an unproven design, already admitted supply constraints, and compromises that don't make sense for users.

If you are an iPhone fan, I say buy the iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. These are proven designs of a great phone. No, there's no flashy design, but what are you losing from an iPhone X? A screen with a notch in it, Face ID, and Animoji. That's it.…

On April 6th 2013, I lost my sister, Anne Smedinghoff, to a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, where she was stationed working as Foreign Service Press Officer for the State Department. She was on a mission to deliver books to a school. Books being so important to help increase the literacy rate in Afghanistan so young people are able to read the Quran and other books for themselves to make informed decisions. The days and months that have followed have been the hardest days on my short life so far, and the struggle to move forward is not over for me. Through it all, I have come to several realizations about the industry I love to cover I want to share with people, especially through the lens of losing a loved one.

The thing that struck me first, is that my sister carried her iPhone 4S in her 'go-to bag' that she was holding at
the time of the attack. The iPhone is one of the most dropped, damaged, broken devices I see in people's hands, screens are cracked and backs are shatt…

About Me

I enjoy being creative, I'm excited by social media and technology and the power it has to bring out lives closer together and empower the voices of the people. I love working on the cutting edge of tech to figure out how our digital lives will grow and change.

I'm interested in working with companies and institutions looking for someone to help communicate with their customers and employees about technology and IT.